Ski town USA?

Nora and Stuey and their ski instructor

When Kodiak skiers go to the mainland to ski they generally go to Alyeska and the big mountain.  But funnily enough I prefer Hilltop and Anchorage!  The cross country skiing is way better and it is far less hassle.  Also for kids Alyeska is either advanced and too hard core or bunny slopes - there is no intermediate.  So Hilltop despite being ALL bunny slopes is actually no worse than Alyeska for kids. I also gather Anchorage has another downhill ski area at Alpenglow.  I plan to try it next time I'm in Anchorage.

In any case, when I find myself going on a ski vacation I kind of like Anchorage.  I can go cross country skiing at Kincaid, Service, or if it is a low snow year up at Glenn Alps (Flattop).  There is always good cross country skiing.  And there is plenty to do while we are not skiing.

For this last trip it was pretty cold - single digits for highs.  Alyeska would have been too cold.  Who wants to ski for hours in the freezing cold?  With temperatures like that 2 hours at Hilltop was a perfect ski day!

So is Anchorage 'ski town, USA'?  Is it my favorite place to go skiing?  I think it is close, but my absolute favorite place to go cross country skiing is at Birch Hill in Fairbanks in late March.  I think one of these years we'll all go up there for ski vacation!
Patrick

Stuey likes to skate ski best of all - here he is on the Hillside trails

Stuey and Nora on the man made snow at Kincaid

Hard core cold at the top of the Hilltop ski run